The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-11
9 Governors opinion in the case:
sTHE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

/ of the Governors opinion in the
THE STATE OF ILLIsoIs,
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
ssSPRINGFIELp, Nov. 10, 1887. }
'On the Goth day of August, 1886. in Cook
County Criminal Court August Spies, Albert r.
Parsons, Samuel Fielden, Michael Schwab,
Adolph Fischer, George Engel and Louis Lingg
were found guilty by the verdict of the jury,
and afterwards sentenced to be hanged for the
murder of Matthias j. Deegan. An appeal was
taken from such finding and sentence to the Su-
preme Court of the State That court, upon
final hearing, and after mature deliberation,
unanimously affirmed the judgment of the court
below The now comes before me by petit
tion of the defendants for consideration Gov
ernor of the State. il the letters of Albert R.
Parsons. Adolph Fischer, George Engel. and
Louis Lingg. demanding unconditional release
or. they express it, liberty or DEATH and
protesting in the strongest language against
mercy or continuation of sentence pronounced
against them, be considered petitions.
Pardon, could it be granted which might
imply any guilt whatever upon the part of either
of them, would not be such virdicaton
they demand Executive intervention upon the
ground insisted upon by the four above named
persons could. in proper sense, be deemed
an exercise of the constitutional power to grant
reprieves comm utations and pardons. unless
based upon the belief on my part of their entire
innocence of the crime of which they stand con-
victed. Careful consideration of the evidence
in the record of the trial of the parties we'll
as of facts alleged and claimed for them outside
of the record, has failed to produce upon my
mind any impression tending to impeach the
verdict of the jury, the judgment of the trial
court. of the Supreme Court affirming the
guilt of all the parties. Satisfied. therefore,
T IF hair r Ind al from
sidering the question of Communication of the
sentences of Albert r. Parsons Adolph Fischer,
George Engel and Louis Lingg to imprisonment
il the penitentiary, as they emphaticay declare
they will not accept such Communication.
Samuel Fielden Michael Schwab and August
Spies unite in a petition for executive oiem-
ency.' Fielden and Schwab, in addition. pre-
sent separate and supplementary petitions for
the commutation of their sentences While, as
stated above. I am satisfied of the guilt of all
the parties, as found by the verdict of the jury.
which sustained by the judgments of the
courts a most careful consideration OF the whole
| subject leads to the conclusion that the
| tence of the law as to Samuel Flelden and Mi
| chael Schwab may be modified as to each of them
| in the interest of humanity, and without doing
violence to public jnstice. And to the said
| Samuel Fielden and Micheal Schwab the SEN
tence is commuted to Imprisonment in the peni-
| tentiary for lfs AS to ali the other above
named defendants, 1 do not feel justified in in
| terfering with the sentence of the court.
while would gladly have come to a different
| conclusion in regard to the sentence of defend
ants August Spies. Adolph Fischer. George En-
| gel, Albert r. Parsons and Louis Lingg, re-
| gret to say that, under the solemn sense of the
obligations of my office, have been unable to
! do 50. "RIoHARD J. OGLEsBY. Governor"
Siace the public announcement of the de-
| cision. the Governor has remained in his study
| at the mansion, and is engaged this evening in
| considering the great volume of general pub
| lie business which has accumulated while the
| all-absorbing pardon case was pending. He is
evidently giving no heed whatever to the great
volume OF threatening letters he has received,
rs the lights are shining brightly from the win
| dows of the executive mansion, and everything
| has its wonted appearance. Four policemen are,
| however, keeping close lookout around the
mansion. and will doubtless continue TO do SO
| nightly until some time after the execution of
the condemned.
OF the four or five of the Anarchists friends
| who remained in the city over to-day, all but
two left the o'clock train for Chicago
Immediately after receiving the news of the
Governors decision Representative Roherbaeh
and President Oliver, of the Amnesty Associa-
ton, were first informed of the decision imme-
diately after its announcement and expressed
great astonshnent that more eff the condemned
men had not received clemency. Roherbach and
Oliver could hardly credit the news. and when
emphatcally informed of its authenticity ap-
peared dowacast, and refused at once to express
any further opinion the subject. George
Schilling expressed mingled disappointment and
flo hn@x h
stained from any forcible expressions of opin-
ion. His chagrin more apparent in his
tion than in his words. and he too after fully
approaching the import of the intelligence,
lapsed into a stubbornly uncommunicative
state. The last of the Anarchists friends left
for Chicago on the midnight train.
Lawyer Black VIII Try Once More.
SPRINGFIELD, Nov. lot is learned at late
hour tonight that Capt. Black has wired Sehil-
ling to remain in Springfield, he fBlack) will
arrive here in the morning at $50 to appear be-
fore the Governor. and urge stay in the
cuton of Parsons the ground that the latter
is insane. and has been for many mouths. and is
not responsible for his acts. He will also make
a plea for Spies. and, in fact, for all the con-
demned men. Certain it is that Black will arriye
here in the morning and that Schilling has re-
Inained over to meet him and join in the plea
the Governor. Schilling approached by
Associated Press reporter late tonight, but
fused to be interviewed or answer any questions
whatever relating to the subject. He did not
deny the authenticity of the report
CHICAGO. Nov 10.-Before leaving for Spring
field to- ight Captain Black said he had positive
knowledge that the Haymarket bomb
thrown by Schnaubelt. and that he could, dur
ing the trial, haye produced Schnaubelt in
court but was too much afraid of the rulings
Judge Gary making
Spies Expresses Willingne Die.
SPRINGFIELD, H., Nov 1o.-Governor Ogles-
by was to day handed the following letter, written
by August Spies:
CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 1887.
Gov r. j. OgIesby Springfield. all:
Sir-The fact that of us haye appealed TO you
for Justice, under the pardonirg prerogative, while
haya OF enter iuto